Benjamin Calais, Winemaking

It takes a lot of beer to make great wine.

As a Frenchman from Calais, France, Benjamin is a standout in the Texas wine industry. With an educational background in information technology, engineering work brought him from France to Texas in 2007. His side hobby of making wine quickly took over, with Calais Winery opening in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood the following year.

Benjamin readily made a name for himself in the Texas Wine scene and later purchased land in the quaint community of Hye, moving Calais Winery to open its doors in the Texas Hill Country in 2015. Calais Winery continues to offer exquisite Texas wines made from grape varieties commonly grown in Bordeaux. He’s excited to have a new home at French Connection for the wines he makes from grapes typically grown in France’s Rhône Valley.

Benjamin maintains a reputation for making quality wines, and he is known as a collaborator and partner among local wineries. His vision for promoting wines made 100% from Texas grapes adds to his respect in the Texas winemaking scene.

Benjamin Calais can be contacted at benjamin@calaiswinery.com.

Gina Ross, General Manager

Gina joined the Calais Winery team in 2020, bringing with her almost 10 years of experience working in the Texas wine industry in many roles. 

After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism, her first job took her to live in Western Europe, where her love of wine first began. Following a few other stops, the almost-native Austinite landed in the Hill Country and discovered that a challenging, yet endlessly rewarding career in Texas wine was what she wanted. She has since completed her Viticulture & Enology Certificate from Texas Tech, and is always looking for new ways to expand her wine knowledge.

Whether Gina’s pouring in the tasting room, assisting our much-appreciated Allocation List members, or helping in the winery, she’s excited to be a part of a team dedicated to producing premium Texas wine.

Gina Ross can be contacted at gina@calaiswinery.com.